The ghoul responds back to Malakiah.
"Yes, master. If there is flesh I hunger for it, and am happy to seek it out."
"Is master letting me enter a crypt? I haven't been in a different crypt for a long time." The ghoul start licking its lips with its disturbingly long tongue.
This crypt was guarded by Xanderghul, Runelord of Pride.
"Yes, my master! A crypt! I am excited!"
A plush red carpet runs down this narrow corridor between wood-paneled walls polished to a high sheen. Floating lanterns cast a gentle glow into each alcove flanking the corridor, where bodies wrapped in pristine linen are laid to rest in niches. Rather than the clammy chill of most underground rooms, this chamber is pleasantly warm, and the soothing sound of chimes tinkles softly in the distance.
The ghoul rushes into the room. "Flesh! YES! MY HUNGER!" It licks its lips and goes straight for a body.
As it walks through, a trap goes off, and a spray of colors hits it in the face. It doesn't seem to care.
As that happens, a single skeleton walks around the corner and attacks the ghoul. "I don't care about you! You have no flesh! I want this body! Get outta my way!" The ghoul slashes at the skeleton a few times and destroys it.
The ghoul turns its attention to the first body it sees and begins unwrapping it, preparing to feast.
You notice the trap is still there, but needs time to reset.
There's no treasure in here at all.
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During the brief period in which they have an enslaved ghoul, Thessaly wrinkles her nose, but doesn't object... when Lyteonira attacks, however, she mildly face-palms.
"Okay, I can get not wantin' to let it eat some poor bastard's corpse meat, but gah-- warn us," she growls, lifting her glaive and seeing whether the ghoul is dead or turns on them.
The ghoul crumbles to Lyteonira's attack.
This crypt is guarded by Belimarius, Runelord of Envy.
This crypt is noticeably colder than the surrounding rooms, and a rime of ice crystals coats the walls and the remains of the dead interred here.
Thessaly notices there's a dark colored mold covering the back corners of the wall and floor. It grows noticeably colder upon approach to the mold.
You know going too close to this mold would likely result in a rapid drop in body temperature, potentially lethal amounts.
There's no treasure in the first parts of the crypt, but may be some in the mold...
Thessaly scrapes some mold out of the way, and bring back two potions.
You go back to the only unopened room and find that the lock is too tough to open.
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”I don’t have anything cold, and I’d like to keep my ass intact,” Kayde mutters as she scrapes the mold free of the wall.
Considering that they seem to have opened all, Kayde shrugs. ”I say we use the priest’s chime to check out the rest of this place and head top-side. We turn in our undead-creatin’ friend here, collect our congratulations, and go get a freakin’ back massage.”
You determine that the piece of rune found in the library with tablets is actually a key to the door-wall near the south side of the place. The rune disappears when inserted and it turns that wall from stone to a pile of flesh, which can be cut to allow passage. The wall eventually reforms after a few minutes, and if you check the rune's original place after the wall forms, it is back in the wall where it was before. This happens no matter how many times you repeat the process.
The pit that was near the alchemist's lair you explore is yet another hidden cliffside exit from this crypt, albeit a dangerous one.
You don't go in the large pit to the north, but from the study of the tablets in the library, you find it leads to the Darklands. The pit is very, very, very, very deep.
The stone monolith you eventually find out is some kind of portal to another place. If you touch it, it says "The Dark Rider is coming" in your head.
The way behind the Sihedron door is a long, long tunnel. Very long. It eventually leads to a place with a locked door, and you hear screams beyond the door. You find that this is so far that the Pharasmans may not want you to deal with it.
The stairs near the chapel go to another section of the Ossuary, outside of the crypt.
You head back to the church of Pharasma. Valanthe is exceedingly grateful, and gives each of you 750 gp. She listens to your stories of the crypts and gasps at a few instances... especially for events that still need to be figured out (The stone monolith, the pit, etc.) The church takes Svilennius (the alchemist) into custody into the Sanctuary of Fate with all the other people that have "gone crazy." Valanthe thanks you profusely for solving the mystery, and after a couple day reports that no further bodies have gone missing.
You later learn that Esme (the magus zombie you let go) has become integrated into society in the Ankar-Te region of Kaer Maga. She is working on figuring out how to cure herself of being of the undead. You haven't heard from the Tengus, but figure they are out still being bandits and tomb robbers.
You eventually are picked up by the familiar face of the bard of the Society who brought you here in the first place. He looks just as ridiculous as before. He brings you back to the Flaxseed Lodge to be ready for your next mission. "I've heard word that you succeeded. Perhaps the Church here will remember your deed in the future."
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Thessaly is glad to breathe the fresh air when they're out of the crypts again. "Well that was a party, yeah?" she says loudly. "Soon as the Pharasmins pay us, drinks are on me! For any who wanna come. Got to be some really weird bars here in Kaer Maga. Good work, ya lousy jerks," she grins, with a wink.